The Japanese in the Philippines 1880's-1980's

Terami-Wada’s The Japanese in the Philippines (1880s–1980s) examines the historical presence and evolving perceptions of Japan and the Japanese in the Philippines across a century, consisting of five essays exploring Japanese involvement in the Philippines during significant historical periods.

The first essay discusses Japan's role in the Philippine Revolution, including early Japanese intellectual support for Filipino independence and later shifts in Japan’s political stance. It highlights Filipino revolutionaries’ initial admiration for Japan, their attempts at securing Japanese aid, and how these relations ultimately waned when Japan chose neutrality in the conflict between Spain and the United States.

The second essay investigates the karayuki-san (Japanese prostitutes) in Manila, analyzing historical accounts, the expansion of Japanese brothels in Sampaloc, and their representation in popular Tagalog songs.

The third essay provides an overview of Japanese organizations in pre-World War II Manila, categorizing them into official, service, and goodwill groups, each with distinct roles in cultural and economic relations.

The final two essays examine shifts in Filipino perceptions of the Japanese through literary analysis of Liwayway magazine stories from the 1920s to the 1980s. Pre-war narratives often depicted Japanese women as nannies, entertainers, or landowners, while post-war portrayals shifted to negative images of Japanese soldiers, recruiters, and gangsters.

The book is a valuable contribution to Philippine-Japanese historical scholarship, providing insights into diplomatic, economic, and cultural interactions.

Published in 2010 by National Historical Commission of the Philippines

178 pages